Medicinal abuse of elderly patients rising

Australian experts on ageing say they are increasingly seeing medicines used as a way to abuse the elderly.
Associate Professor Susan Kurrle from the University of Sydney says often people are given sedatives or medications to keep them drowsy.
She says in some cases, relatives or carers want to harm the elderly patient, but in most examples it is an indication that the carer is not coping with their responsibilities.
"What we are seeing particularly is overuse and that might be sedatives being used all day instead of just at night," she said.